Universal serial bus interfaces for a hearing aid

Abstract

A hearing aid comprising a microphone, processing electronics connected to the microphone, a housing enclosing the processing electronics, a wireless USB controller connected to the processing electronics Other examples include method and apparatus of hearing aids with a wired USB port.

1 . A hearing aid comprising;
 a microphone;   processing electronics connected to the microphone;   a housing enclosing the processing electronics; and   a wireless USB controller connected to the processing electronics.   
   
   
       2 . The hearing aid of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is a behind-the-ear housing. 
   
   
       3 . The hearing aid of  claim 2 , further comprising a receiver connected to the processing electronics, the receiver adapted to fit in a wearer's ear canal. 
   
   
       4 . The hearing aid of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is an in-the-ear housing. 
   
   
       5 . The hearing aid of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is an in-the-canal housing. 
   
   
       6 . The hearing aid of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is a completely-in-the-canal housing. 
   
   
       7 . The hearing aid of  claim 1 , further comprising flash memory connected to the processing electronics. 
   
   
       8 . A method comprising:
 wirelessly connecting a hearing aid to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device using a USB protocol; and   transferring data between the USB device and the hearing aid.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein wirelessly connecting includes wirelessly connecting the hearing aid to a USB monitor and the method further comprises displaying data from the hearing aid. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein wirelessly connecting includes wirelessly connecting the hearing aid to a cell phone and wherein transferring data includes transferring data between the hearing aid and the cell phone. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising programming the hearing aid using the cell phone. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein wirelessly connecting includes wirelessly connecting the hearing aid to a cell phone and wherein transferring data includes streaming audio data between the hearing aid and the cell phone. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein wirelessly connecting includes wirelessly connecting the hearing aid to a second hearing aid and wherein transferring data includes transferring data between the hearing aid and the second hearing aid. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein wireless connecting includes wirelessly connecting the hearing aid to the second hearing aid as a host USB device. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising programming the second hearing aid using programming data from the hearing aid. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein transferring data includes transferring audio data. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein transferring audio data includes streaming audio data between the hearing aid and the second hearing aid. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the USB device is a computer and wherein transferring data includes transferring data between the hearing aid and the computer. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising programming the hearing aid using the computer. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein transferring data includes transferring audio files.